Fluid coupling



Fei 23, 1965 R. L.. DE wrrT ETAI. 3,170,436

FLUID couPLING Filed May 1e, 1962 MEE EYE.

INVENTORS RICHARD L.. DEWITT HAROLD W. SCHMIDT l Km @fw f ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,170,486 FLUID COUPLING vRicllardL. De Witt, Rocky River, and Harold W. Schmidt,

CuyahogaFalls, Ollio, assignors tothe UnitedStates of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration FiledMay 16, 1962, Ser. No. 195,346

1 l 5 Claims. (Cl. 137-614) (Granted under Title 35, U.S. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and disconnected to a matching sectionl which is station- 'Y ary invxedrrelation to the Wall of a missile, rocket or other Spacevehicle having valve actuating means hermetiically isolated from the liquid tlow path by, a passageway comprising a longitudinally expandable yand contractable i wall, the wall cooperating with the actuating means to operate fa valve system housed Within the passageway.

With the -advent of space investigation, the usev of cryogenic liquids has become widespread; they are employed in rockets, missiles `and other space-vehicles for various purposes, particularly as afuel. Inaddition to being hard to handle because of their extremely low temperatures and explosive character, some of these cryogenic 'liquids' such asliquidfiuorine aregextremely corrosive and pose 4problems-'in,preventing their escape during the transfer from the'so'urce of supply tothe space vehicle. Moreover the elusive character of these'cryo'genic liquids requires that the filling of the spacevehicle be performed atlthe very last minute while the said vehicle has been 3,l7il,46 o Paiiemted `Feb. 23, 1965 ICC e It is another object of the instant invention to provide a valver assembly 'which is capable of quick disconnection and reconnectionallowing onlythe minimum in spillage.

Itis still a further object of the instantinvention to provide a valve assembly which may be employed as above to control the How of corrosive cryogenic liquids.

Another still furthercbject of the instant invention isY to provide a valve assembly as above indicated which is capable of being actuated from a remote position wherein the valve being actuated cooperatesto open a mating valve in the rocket or space vehicle. Y

Additionally, it is particularly an object of the instant invention to provide a remotely operable valve section which is capable of being quickly connected and disconnected to a matching section which is stationary in xed relation to the wall of a spacevehicle, having valve actu'- ating means isolated from 'a liquid'owpath by a passageway comprising `a longitudinally expandable and contractable wall adapted to cooperate inaperistalic like manner with the actuating means to operate a valve system housed within the passageway.'Y l

Other objects' and advantages of the present invention will become apparent tas the following description proceeds- In accordance with the objects of thepresent invention there is provided a two-component valve assembly for controlling the liow 'of cryogenic liquids comprising a quick disconnect section and astationary section, each being removable from the other at parting surfaces adapted to facilitate the bringing of the two'sections together in a lixed alignment forming a vpressure tight interface. The stationary section is permanently set into the outside wall of the space vehicle and yfunctions as a means of communication -from the source of supply of the cryogenic liquid to the reservoir of the vehicle, The quick disconneet' section, onthe other hand, provides .the connecting and disconnecting Vfeature of the instant invention and Perectedon alaunching pad, requiring operation by ren m'ote control. o t

To be effective in transporting liquids from the source of Ysupply to the space vehicles. the connection thereto and the disconnection therefrom must be effective very rapidly by the remotely operating means allowing only a :negligible amount of spillage. After the rocket Vor space vehicle has been supplied with a sutiicient amount of 'cryogenic liquid and the source of supply disconnected, the means of communication into the missile lmust be sealedifrom the outside with a-lasing durable seal. YIf

Sucha seal is not effectedthe cryogenic liquid escapes,

Arestricting the time the vehicle may be employed in outer space. This seal may have to be repeatedly reformed as a need for more cryogenic 'liquid recurs.

At present there are no devices particularly combining the necessary attaching larrangement with avr liquid con- ,trol valve assembly which can be remotely actuated for bothoperations and also handle cryogenic liquids, par'- iquid .uorine which tis alsocapable of connection,

quick disconnection and Ireconnectionthrough repeated .cycles-with almost no'spillagev of the liquid' during the transportation thereof.

1;- -Accordingly, it is an object ofthe instant invention to .provide a; means for connecting a source of` supply of a remains with the source of supplyV after the launching of the space vehicle. The two sections comprise hollow main bodies havingvmating ends adapted to form a sealed 'interface with each other withfan axiallyflignedvalve body ineach endcooperating with valve seats provided at the periphery of two axially-aligned"apertures, one `aperture being at the mating end of the disconnect' section and Athe other aperture being in the mating'fend of the said stationary section and providing communicationfbetween the two sections. The Valve body 4in the quickdisvalve is opened to liquid flow by imposing allow of pressurizedv gas against the force translating means tocounteract the'said biasing means releasing the valve body from tension and moving it into larropen position into contact wwith the valve body-in the stationary section to move' the body to an open posi-tion, the second valve4 body being held in a normally closed position byfanothervbiasing meansA exerting Vcompressive forces against the back of .cryogenic liquid to a rocketiorf-,spaee vehicle' whichsis l f the biasin'gmeans. v f

the saidsecond valve body."- Theiliquidflovffpathjthrough the quick disconnect section isprovided wall longiv"tudin'ally expandable and contractable in, aj,peris'taliclike manner extending from Veithersideof the force translating member to the inlet. and to Jtheaperture which lisolates the biasing means Vfrom the of the liquid while at the Same time cooperating with:the longitudinal movement of the force translatingrnember without allowing communication between the liquidilow pathA and connectionV and reconnection.

Saronno' Y A better.V understanding of thepresent invention` will Y be had by reference tothe accompanying drawing showing a preferred embodiment in which:

The figure is an isometricview of the entire valve assembly showing the two sections wherein the valve bodies are. in a closedseated position.

Referringto the drawing, the figure illustrates a valve assembly advantageously employed for controlling the ya .t

of the disconnect section bearing Yagainst Vrings 37 and 3S. o l

' Integral with mating end 31 is valve stem guide housing 39 extending coaxially into disconnect `section 11 Yfrom opening 40 in mating endV 31. Supported coaxially within housing V3S by spider, supports -41 is'valve stem guide 42.' Extending through guide 42 and in VslidablerelationQ flow of cryogenic liquids from a source into the reservoir ofl a space vehicle or other-` apparatus which uses they liquids,the valveV assembly beingjcapablejof quick dis- The component sections making `up thecomplete valve assembly consist of a ary section 12in a liquid and gas tight relationship.

Stationary section V12r which is to be set in a wall (not yshown) ofl-the rocket o'r" other space vehicle as a permanent inlet yfor the cryogenic liquid,V conveniently com'- prisesla `cylindrical main body 13 integral with radiallyextending ange `14-,Arem'ovably bolted to: wall adapter 15 f with bolts lr6; providing radially-sectioned zone-17v to. be occupiedby the wall ysection (not shown) immediately ship. therewith is valve stem 43y which isintegr'alrwith poppet valve (element 44 and in fixedVV attachment with` spider 45. Coaxial with cylindricalvinain wally 29 isforce f translating slideridimensioned to permit freelongi- Y quick disconnect" section 11 removably locked, to stationsurrounding an openingin'the/ section.,y Radially spacedk from the axis is recess 1S VVin ysection 12 comprising'concen-tric sei-rations having Vsharp ridges capable of bit-v ing into a soft metal gasket such as lead or aluminum,

r and forming a gas-liquid seal 'with matching serratonsv in adapter 15.v

tudinal movement along the inner surface of wall-29.' i Integral with slider 46 .is annular ilange47 extending inwardly in a plane substantially perpendicular to thevaxis,

and providinga cylindrical housing for A'spider 45 which also permits liquid communication longitudinally across spider45. Y fp@ Y V.Extending longitudinally fromV VtheperipheryY of one side of the flange 47 is tubular bellows .V48 orrninga passageway from the-'flange 47 tothe inner face of annular housing-wand at the .sametime isolatinga radial zone 49 `extending longitudinally alongfthe, outerqsurface of housing 39` to annular bearingV surface 5i) provided by the inner sideof mating endy 3i., Locatedinzone 49 is,

coil .spring S17-'exerting a biasing force. against flangev4i7 which is translated through spiderf45; along .valvestem Extending longitudinally and coaxially through the eny tire stationary section is fluidpassageway 20' providing liquid communication between outlet 21 and opening 22. `I n addition yto conducting liuids, particularly cryogenie liquids, passageway 20 provides Va housing for valve stem guide 23 `supportedcoaxially within passageway 2i) by spider supports 24 and poppet valve element 25 Kin-v tegral with valve stern 26 which slidably ext-ends into valve stem guide 2li.l Valve element 25 cooperates with valve Y seat 27`r at theV periphery of opening 22 andis held in aj normally closed position by coil spring 28` (or any other suitable biasing means) which is maintained under comf Y pression by valveguide'23 and the baek'of valve element 25 bearing against seat27. Valve stem 26 is dimensioned f to permit sliding within guide 23 to provide for unseating of valve element 25 during transport of liquid ntofthe"V space vehicleand reseating of the valve body by action off spring 28 after the vehicle has been filled; and which action maintains the seated valve element 25 in a lasting even years; losses lof the'cryogenicliquid which is vital tov its vmany `functions would Vnecessarily be fatal to the` Y operation ofthe vehicle and its occupants. Y

Quick-disconnect section 11 is conveniently Vof a Vgenerally cylindrical.-configuration comprisingl -a Acylindrical main -wall 29 of substantially uniform -crossfsectinlprofY ,-viding a hollow casing integral withdlange Sifwhich is substantiallyradially.coextensive withange `141i. i Y Flush'against and also radially coextensive with ilangeV 30 is mating end 31 providing a surface of radially `spaced Vlands and grooves 32 matching complementary lands and i grooves 33 in the matingfendjof'the 'stationary section 12 Vprovided at the longitudinal terminus of the main body.

13 and/flange 14. Raised portions 34 on rthe Wall of I landsand grooves 32 facilitate connection and disconnec-V gas and ,liquid tight seal withrvalve seat 27." The facts that the Valve element 25 maintains Aa gas and liquid seal with the valve seat 27 is important because many Yspace vehicles will be traveling in space for many months or tion by significantly reducing thefrictional area of'c'onv radiallybounding the-lands" and .grooves are annular M grooves 35 and 36 containing Virings 37 and 3S respee tively. Whenthe rtwo sectionsare, together in lockedl revl`a`tion`ship,ias shown, the two mating ends provide an VV:tact at the Walls of the 'landsandgrooves." Recessed in Y the-.face of the mating end of the `stationary section vandinterface havinga` radially extendingtortuous pathwhich:V f

"is ,sealed at both Yendsv by the Ysurface .of TVthemating end Vfory the'cryogenic liquid; -v o Pipe 66. is'axially secured to quic'k-disconnect section 11'byy bolts (notshown)'extendingthrough flange 67 into theaouterfannular face `lof flange-55..` -Radially spaced'iny tlange67,l 'from the axis fisannular recess forfha'ving"con-` centric.v sharp serrations'vcapable *of Vbitingifinto a soft metal y.gasket such asvlead orf alu'rninum forminga liquid l42 to valve element 44 which Vin turn bears against'valve seat 52 adapted to cooperate with;V the said valveelement/ 44 to `form a liquid tight seal. Extending longitudinally` yfrom the periphery ofthe o. other side 'of flangev47 is` tubular bellows 53 forming a passageway from the ilangeg 47 to inlet port 54 in yinwardly extending flange 55 and also` isolating *radial zone 55.

In addition to providing inletl port 54, flange acts as a housing for guide 57 dimensioned to permit stem 58 to move smoothly alongY its Yinside surface, said'stem V5? .being'integral withval've stern 43 iand'extending Vaxially therefrom toinsure true axial movement of valve eleg nient 44. .l

Providing gaseouscommunication:with lradial@ zone r545 v are gas outletj59 and gasinletii to permit theapplication and withdrawalof pressurizedlgas'tothe said zone.Y YInlet taillis threadably connected to gas-sourceconduit 6K1 V(par` tially shown) byfway of'reducer iitting62iforrning'a gas f y tight seal with the flared -end (not shown) of conduit 61. ,The seal Visfmairitainerd :EbyV female drawing",iit-ting,d3y

screwed tothe male end of .tting 62 to Yforce theflared end vof conduit 61 against -the'lface of the said malegend.

Gas outletSQf-is Valso providedcwith a similar connection to a conduittpartially shown) leading to a reservoirinot Y shown). vZone V49* is provided Withlgaseous'communicationlby inlet 64 and. outlet 65 Vtov a `gas source and reservoirrespectively throughfconnections which `are also simi? lar to the connection described above;y J e The .quickldisconnect section 11 is :preferably: mounted on a rigid or'exible pipe 'dito whichservlesasja conduit SeaLWith matching serrations in ange 55.*)VK Y. As shown in :thedrawing 'quick-disconnect section-:11

Curved elongated aperture 74 which continues in a path of a generated curve greater than the curve generated by pin 73 Vhaving pin 70 askits axis provides for the restricted and controlled rotation of finger 69; as the driver is moved axially the curve of the elongated aperture lcuts the'curve generated by pin 73 at continually changing loci which moves pin 73' to the said locus cut by the greater curve. Supporting drivers 72 are integral longitudinal bases 7S bridging annular rings 76 and 77 coaxially surrounding main body 29. Annular disk 7S is optionally employed as an engineering expedient to firmly connect annular ring 76 to the driver 72 and its base 75.

Inop'eration of the valve assembly 10, quick-disconnect section 11 is brought into mating contactl with stationary section 12 by directing means (not shown). Pipe 66A is in communication with a pressurized source of a cryogenic liquid. After the mating contact has been made between the two sections, the driver assembly slidably surrounding the outside of cylindrical main wall 29 and comprising driver 72, annular rings 76 and 77, bridged by longitudinal section '75, is driven rearward from stationary section by anyA suitable driving mechanisrn (not shown) such as a mechanical translating means, an electrical magnetic'means or an' electro-mechanical means such as a solenoid operated driver. v As the" driver is moved rearwardly the locu's'on a curve generated by pins '73v having pins 70 as theiraxis cut by, the curve of elongated apertures 74 moves toward the` axis of the assembly whereby C-shaped iinger 69 are moved in aconvergingfmanner toward the axis overflange 14 to bear against the inner'annular surface of flange 14. The

two sectionsv are thenlield together in a locked relation-` shipby maintaining the said driver assembly in the `rearward position. Cryogenic liquid coming from the pressurized sourceis then,Av transferred through both sections` of thegvalve assembly Yand discharged'from outlet 2l into the desiredreservoir.' In actual vuse stationary section 12 is permanently affixed to the wall of the missile, rocket or space vehicle which to use the cryogenic liquid which is.A in liquid communication with'fthe reservoir through Vpassageway 2i);V uTaperedl'wall 79 is optionally provided to adaptto a conduitlofalesser diameter.

forwardly to rotate C-shaped lingers 69 to an open posi-Y tion permitting removal of the quick-disconnect section from the said stationary section with very little loss of any of cryogenic liquid due to spillage and/or leakage. Re'- peated connections and disconnections may subsequently be performed in the above-described manner requiring only afew seconds foreach operation.

After the disconnect lsection has been removed from the stationary section a `permanent seal ofthe reservoir is made from the outside surfacek of the space vehicle or rocket by the expansion of coil spring 28 maintaining valve element 25 in a seated relationship with valve seat 27 requiring no further capping or otherwise closing of the inlet 22 into the space vehicle.

The apparatus of the instant invention may be varied in structure particularly in regard to the locking mecha-V nism, and the detailed structure of the overall assembly.

Important considerations are in providing an interface" which is liquid and gas pressure tight and a locking mechanism' which can maintain the said interface'in this manner and also be capable of repeatedly effecting the formation of the interface. l

There is no real criticality in the composition of the materials'of construction except organic Vchemical based compositions should not come in contact with the corros-r t In orderfto;y convey they pressurized cryogenic liquids fromjgdisconnect sectionrllr .into stationary section 1 2- andrgeventually intok the reservoir of the space vehicle,

pressurized gas7 is admitted into `the radial zone 56 I through inlet from@ pressurizedfgas sourceconveyed vthrough lconduit-,61. As thevpressure increases within u zone`56lthe biasing forcesof coil. spring Si bearing against the annular flange 47 of foreqtranslating memberd is counteracted by the gas pressure -and compressed by axi-y almovement. of the said force translating member. As the force translating member-moves to compress vcoil spring y51, valve stern 43 is'moved through valve guide 4210 unseat valvel element 44. rAs valve element 44 moyes from valve-seat-52 Ycontact is with valveelement 25gin the 'stationary'sectionycoil spring 28 is then compressed andfvalve element 25 is alsokmoved from its seat"27 into' an opcn-p`osition. The" pressurized cryogenio Aliquid is theni'free to flow through the 'entire valve assembly and into the reservoir. A .Y

' AAfter the desired amount of cryogenic liquid has been transported intl the reservoirgithe gaspressure 'is released throughv gas outlet 59 whereby valve elements Z5 and 444 v automatically move into a closed relationship with valve seats Z'Zzand 52 respectively by action of coil springs 28 and 51 respectively. Gas inlet 64 is provided as an opv. tional feature to effect the fastest possible closing of the s valve elements by providing for the admission of gas presvsuretinto zone 49 simultaneouslyV with the' expulsion of gasy from zone 56 whereby the force of the gas pressure is added to the biasing force of coil spring. Itis alsoan thevalves have been closed the driver assembly is moved V"Advanta'geously employed with the valve assembly of. ,s the instant invention'isa particular valve -body seatingarrangement ywhichis the subject ofpatent application Serial is preferable because of its mechanical strength but brass, aluminum, copper and Monel mayA also be rused.

It is quite surprising that tubular bellows can be adVantageously employed in the manner of the instant invention becausev of apparent corrosive'action of cryogenic liquids such-as liquid uorine; The'bellows permit the.

practical reduction to'luse of a valve element seating arrangement providing optimurn conditions for seating of the element with the seat and also utilizing the action ofone of the reciprocating valves"to.open another corre-'- spondingvalve, wherein the overall assembly meets all of the aforementioned requirements.V c

The unique design of the instant invention eliminates the need forrany packing glands around the valvestein,

wherein the entire valve element and stern is sealed over! allkplo'ssible positions from the 'actuatingvmeans Consequently, the corrosive cryogenic liquids such asliquid luoriilei may be used without being concerned' with the possibility o f reaction with packing glands lwhich are also:

a common site for-leakage. In `lieu of-tubular bellows othen' longitudinallyexpanding and v contracting cylin`1- drically walled orf cross-sectional passageways may bel the valve system No.-2l2, 174, i1e`djluly`24, 1962. 'This Aarrangement, comprisesl a"I valve seatfhaving a recessedseating face substan-` tially off agspherical conigurationgand a valve .element having acircular seatingrface smaller than the great circle v of the sphericalvalve seat cooperating with said valve seat to forma-zerodeak seal, said valve element comprising the wall defining at least a Vfrustum ,ofthe rightcircular' conejrlwiththe said seating face; at its base and perpendicular to the hypotenuse ofthe generating triangle of the cone. This valve element-seat system provides a metal-t0- metal seal which is entirely zero-leak to all cryogenic A 4liquids and which may be actuated many times without v-distorting or changing the structure of the said system. v

A` particular shape of the apparatus of the instant invention is only governed by engineering expedients and in which isv also'utilized toopen' the valve in a section which is adapted to mate with the said bodyv of the said housing.

7 in a quicklyconnectable, disconnectable and reconnectf able'manner. 'f v Because of the` extremely-low temperaturesof the cryogenic liquids theformation of frost on the'mating surfaces is likely to occur if the surfaces remain apartforpan extended timeybefore reconnection during the Vsame loading operation.

This problem may be effectively overf come by providing outlets aroundthe periphery around t the mating ends of both sections to permit the flow of dry inert gasV forming a conical profile of-dry artifcal atmosphere to drive away the moisture ladenair in the iin-vV mediate vicinity of the mating surfaces.

Thetubularbellows employed with the instant inveni tion should be designed with suicient.hoop strength and with the sufficient number of convolutions per length to prevent stretching them past the elastic'limit.

Other designs utilizing the features of the instant inven- Y tion are also envisioned andare considered partpof'the instantlinvention.

The present` invention is not limitedtp the embodiments described and illustrated but includes all those embodiments falling Within the scope of the appended/claims. What isV claimedis:- j l' l.` A detachable liquid ow controltcomponentfor co- I voperative engagement with av fixedly. mountedliquidV control component, said 'detachable vcompone'ntfcomprising:

a hollow body providing a ilowV-passage and an open end face; a valvel element extending outwardly Y,from said open end'faceymeansin, said hollow body to yieldingly bias said valve element toclosed position; a slideable member` extending longitudinally within said hollow body; said j axially-through said body, and a'valve;element"movablyl slideable member 'formed with an intermediatey annular',V

ilange extending inwardly toward theow passage .of said hollowbody; inlet meansfor supplying pressurized gas' to said'hollow body; and a bellows attached to said inwardly extending; annulariiange` for `isolating theflow passage t from lthe inlet means whereby pressure against said 'in` t Wardly extending annularfilange overrides said biasingVK means to' actuate saidvalve'element to open position,V

2.f A detachable liquid dow control component forseal.

ing engagement with a'xedly mounted liquid owconv trol component including'abodyfhaving an exposed end face with aV sealable engaging sinface,y aiiolw passage extendingV through said body and terminating vexteriorly in aninlet openingin said'- eridface,y andpavalve element movably: mounted in saidilow passage yieldably biased tok Y close `said inlet opening, saidjdetachable component comthe flow passage 4of said'hollow body; a spider meinberxed to said valve stern means betweentsaidfrs't and sec.

ond annular guide means and engaging saidfinw-ardly ex-V tending annular angevfor concurrent:l mvemet there# with; inlet meansV for supplying pressurized gasl to said hollow body; and a bellows attached to said inwardly extending annular flange for isolating the flow passage from theginletY means whereby pressure against said kan'- nular iiange overrides the biasing means to actuate said valve element to4 open position.' Y ,f

3.*A detachable liquid ow control componentasset forth in claimZ having coupling means, said coupling meanscomprising: a ring `means coaxially' surrounding s aid.v hollowbody; a plurality of driver members mounted for longitudinal movement with said'ring means;v each of said drivermembers having a curved aperture' formed therein; a .Ceshaped finger pivotally attached, to said hollow body for each vsaid driver member; and a pin fattached to` eachl of saidV Cfshaped ngersextending into the 'curvedaperture in its respective drive memberwhereby longitudinalr movement of said drivers cams said C-shaped fingers and sealingly couplessaid detachable Vand iixedly mounted liquid flow control components. l j Y i 4. A detachable liquid `ilow control component for cooperative engagement with avxedlyrmounted liquid lilow control component, includingV a body. terminating in Va radially extending Harige,` said flange having anV exposed engageablesealing end face/allowr passage'extending mounted in said flow passage, said ldetachable component comprising: a 'hollow' body having a mating Vendrconf formed for'seialing engagementwith 'the end kface of said iixedly mounted component; means'forming a liquidY coni duit extending axially through said hollow body; afvalve element movably mounted in saidhollowbody; and lock;- ing-means .for .rigidly connecting said-owcomponents together includinga plurality of O-shaped ngers pivotally g attachedto said hollowbody, a pin fixed to rcachot said. C-shaped fingers and extending outwardly'therefrom, a# longitudinally movable driver for eachof said Cshapedy f fingers having means formingan elongated curved aper-Y ture,'one offsaid pins disposed in saidiaperture and con- -necting onefof said"Cfshapedfingersl and driver ,whereby 1 selectedlongitudinal movementrof saidiKdrii/er.Y cams said Cp-shapediinger into abuttinggrelationshipwith; the radially i sealingly lock said flow components together.

prising: a` hollqw'bodyfproyidingfafilow passage; said Y hollow body havingi'an end facci conformed for sealing guidemeans mounted ,i in' said Vhollow .bodyg'valve stern means fixed to saidvalve element of saidv hollow VVbody and extending through -said guide means in sliding'relationv if-therewith; a forcetranslatinggslideable member A.extending Y. i; t longitudinally Within 'said hllow body formed any i' intermediate annular' iiange i extending inwardly toward 5'.; A `detachable gliquiidjilowfcontrolf component as fsetforth`inj clairnldwherein ring meansV coaxially surround` t said hollow`body saidv ring means;V iixedly. carrying saidVY ,A longitudinally moving driversQ-'g I rRider-epilees CitedbytliegExarni-neri j AUNITED STATES 'PATENTsf 2,384,628 9x45 Kranen 2,453,389 11g/4s Themas, 137,614.03, 2Y,536,602 .t1/51Y .Y Genital...V f 285- gine-614x111 -exte'ndingfange-oflsaidxedly mounted component-'to l ,Y ,l 

1. A DETACHABLE LIQUID FLOW CONTROL COMPONENT FOR COOPERATIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH A FIXEDLY MOUNTED LIQUID CONTROL COMPONENT, SAID DETACHABLE COMPONENT COMPRISING: A HOLLOW BODY PROVIDING A FLOW PASSAGE AND AN OPEN END FACE; A VALVE ELEMENT EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID OPEN END FACE; MEANS IN SAID HOLLOW BODY TO YIELDINGLY BIAS SAID VALVE ELEMENT TO CLOSED POSITION; A SLIDABLE MEMBER EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY WITHIN SAID HOLLOW BODY; SAID SLIDEABLE MEMBER FORMED WITH AN INTERMEDIATE ANNULAR FLANGE EXTENDING INWARDLY TOWARD THE FLOW PASSAGE OF SAID HOLLOW BODY; INLET MEANS FOR SUPPLYING PRESSURIZED GAS TO SAID HOLLOW BODY; AND A BELLOWS ATTACHED TO SAID INWARDLY EXTENDING ANNULAR FLANGE FOR ISOLATING THE FLOW PASSAGE FROM THE INLET MEANS WHEREBY PRESSURE AGAINST SAID INWARDLY EXTENDING ANNULAR FLANGE OVERRIDES SAID BIASING MEANS TO ACTUATE SAID VALVE ELEMENT TO OPEN POSITION. 